View source for Aldershot

{{short description|Town in Hampshire, England}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| type = [[Town]]
| coordinates = {{coord|51|14|54|N|00|45|41|W|display=inline,title}}
| label_position = left
| population = 40,160
| population_ref = ([[Rushmoor|Rushmoor Borough Council]] data)
| shire_district = [[Rushmoor]]
| shire_county = [[Hampshire]]
| region = South East England
| constituency_westminster = [[Aldershot (UK Parliament constituency)|Aldershot]]
| post_town = ALDERSHOT
| postcode_area = GU
| postcode_district = GU11, GU12
| dial_code = 01252
| os_grid_reference = SU865505
| london_distance = {{cvt|31.8|mi|km}}
| static_image_name = Aldershot montage.png
| static_image_caption = ''Clockwise from top'': [[Cambridge Military Hospital]], equestrian statue of [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington]], Aldershot Post Office, [[Brickfields Country Park]], [[Wesleyan Church, Aldershot|Wesleyan Chambers]], [[Smith-Dorrien House]] and [[Royal Garrison Church, Aldershot|Royal Garrison Church]]
| static_image_2_name = File:Aldershot Town Coat of Arms.png
| static_image_2_width = 116px
| static_image_2_caption = Coat of arms
}}

'''Aldershot''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɔː|l|d|ər|ʃ|ɒ|t}} {{respell|AWL|dər|shot}}) is a town in the [[Rushmoor]] district, [[Hampshire]], England. It lies on [[heath]]land in the extreme north-east corner of the county, {{cvt|31|mi}} south-west of [[London]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aldershot and Farnborough heritage trails - Rushmoor Borough Council |url=https://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/heritagetrails |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=www.rushmoor.gov.uk}}</ref> The town has a population of 40,160,<ref name="Aldershot">{{cite web |date=August 2024 |title=Population Data Sheet, Rushmoor Borough Council |url=https://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/your-council/facts-and-figures-about-rushmoor/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810010910/http://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=11196&p=0 |archive-date=10 August 2018 |access-date=24 May 2021 |website=Rushmoor |publisher=[[Rushmoor|Rushmoor Borough Council]]}}</ref> while the [[Farnborough/Aldershot built-up area|Aldershot Urban Area]] – a loose [[conurbation]], which also includes other towns such as [[Camberley]] and [[Farnborough, Hampshire|Farnborough]] – has a population of 243,344; it is the thirtieth-largest urban area in the [[United Kingdom|UK]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Great Britain and Northern Ireland |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/UK-UA.html |publisher=City Population |access-date=7 July 2012}}</ref>

Aldershot is known as the ''Home of the [[British Army]]'', a connection which led to its rapid growth from a small village to a [[Victorian era|Victorian]] town.<ref name="Army1">{{cite web |title=Development of 'the camp at Aldershott' |url=http://www3.hants.gov.uk/museum/aldershot-museum/local-history-aldershot/aldershott.htm |access-date=12 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091107020442/http://www3.hants.gov.uk/museum/aldershot-museum/local-history-aldershot/aldershott.htm |archive-date=7 November 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
===Early history===
The name is likely to have derived from [[alder]] trees found in the area (from the [[Old English]] 'alor-sceat' meaning copse, or projecting piece of land, featuring alder trees).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ekwall |first1=Eilert |title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names |date=1960 |publisher=OUP |page=5 |edition=Fourth}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Mills |first1=AD |title=Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names |date=1998 |publisher=OUP |page=5}}</ref> Any settlement, though not mentioned by name, would have been included as part of the [[Hundred (division)|Hundred]] of [[Crondall]] referred to in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086.<ref>{{cite web |title=Open Domesday: Crondall |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/SU7948/crondall/ |access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Aldershot Parish Church.jpg|thumb|left|Church of St Michael the Archangel]]
The [[Church of St Michael the Archangel, Aldershot|Church of St Michael the Archangel]] is the parish church for the town and dates to the 12th century with later additions. There was almost certainly an earlier church on the site.<ref name="EnglishHeritage">{{NHLE |num=1339670 |desc=Church of St Michael the Archangel |accessdate=17 July 2014}}</ref> [[Cistercian|Cistercian monks]] from the nearby [[Waverley Abbey]] established [[Monastic grange|grange]]s or farms on their outlying estates, including one at Aldershot by 1175 for sheep grazing. We do not know when monks from the Abbey first came to Aldershot but the first documentary evidence is from 1287 when the Crondall Rental records that at 'Alreshate the Monks of Waverlye hold 31 acres of encroachment'. This area ran from the church of St Michael's down to the area around the present [[Brickfields Country Park]] while the grange itself was near the church.<ref>Childerhouse, Tim. [https://www.brickfieldspark.org/historydoc2.htm Waverley Abbey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124011250/https://www.brickfieldspark.org/historydoc2.htm |date=24 January 2022 }}, History of Brickfields Park</ref><ref>Baigent, Francis Joseph. ''On The Abbey Of The Blessed Mary Of Waverley'', Wyman (1882)</ref> [[John Norden]]'s map of Hampshire, published in the 1607 edition of [[William Camden]]'s ''Britannia'', indicates that Aldershot was a market town.<ref name="William Camden">{{Cite web |last1=Norgate |first1=Jean |last2=Norgate |first2=Martin |title=Hampshire maps, Norden 1607, SU95 |publisher=Geography Department, [[University of Portsmouth]] |year=2005 |url=http://www.geog.port.ac.uk/webmap/hantsmap/hantsmap/norden1/nd1su95f.htm |access-date=2 April 2014}}</ref>

The area was a vast stretch of sparsely populated [[common land]], considered unsuitable for most forms of agriculture. Aldershot, Crondall, Farnborough, and [[Yateley]] were all part of the manor of Crondall in the north-east corner of Hampshire. Crondall manor is mentioned in the Domesday Survey in 1086. It was probably Scandinavian in origin, judging by the ruling family's practice of granting sole inheritance to the eldest child regardless of sex, rather than to the eldest son.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/originofanglosax00shoruoft/originofanglosax00shoruoft_djvu.txt 'Origin of the Anglo-Saxon race : a study of the settlement of England and the tribal origin of the Old English people' (1906)]</ref>
[[File:Aldershot Manor - geograph.org.uk - 3665231.jpg|thumb|Aldershot Manor, 2013]]

The first recorded mention of the manor of Aldershot is in 1573 in the will of [[John White (died 1573)|Sir John White]] of Aldershot (c1512&ndash;1573), alderman of London who was knighted when he became [[Lord Mayor of London]] (1563-4).<ref>[http://heathhist.pbworks.com/w/page/17465395/SirJohnWhite1573 Sir John White of Aldershot, MP: Lord Mayor of London, died 1573] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207023616/http://heathhist.pbworks.com/w/page/17465395/SirJohnWhite1573 |date=7 February 2021 }}, Heathland History website</ref><ref>[https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/white-sir-john-1573 WHITE, Sir John (d.1573), of London and Aldershot, Hants] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415080203/https://historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/white-sir-john-1573 |date=15 April 2021 }}, Published in ''The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603'', ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981</ref> He left [[Aldershot Park|Aldershot Manor]] to his son Sir Robert White of Aldershot (died 1599). He, in turn, left the manor to be divided between his two daughters, Ellen the wife of [[Sir Richard Tichborne, 2nd Baronet|Sir Richard Tichborne]] and Mary, the wife of [[Walter Tichborne|Sir Walter Tichborne]], brother of Richard.<ref>'Parishes: Aldershot', in A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 4, ed. William Page (London, 1911), pp. 2-5. British History Online [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/hants/vol4/pp2-5 (accessed 3 February 2021)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123235611/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/hants/vol4/pp2-5 |date=23 January 2021 }}</ref> The 18th-century [[jurist]] [[Charles Viner (jurist)|Charles Viner]] lived in the town and printed his ''A General Abridgment of Law and Equity'' on a press in his home. In the 18th century, the stretch of the London to [[Winchester]] [[Toll road|turnpike]] that passed through Aldershot between [[Bagshot]] and Farnham (now known as the Farnborough Road) was the scene of highway robberies. At one time it had "almost as bad a reputation as [[Hounslow Heath]]".<ref name="Fraser">{{Cite book |editor-last=Froude |editor-first=James Anthony |editor-link=James Anthony Froude |editor2-last=Tulloch |editor2-first=John |title=Fraser's Magazine for Town and Country |place=London |publisher=J. Fraser |volume=68 |date=August 1863 |chapter=A Chapter on Chalons and Aldershot |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M9cAAAAAYAAJ&q=aldershot+hounslow+heath&pg=PA191 |page=191 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M9cAAAAAYAAJ |access-date=2 April 2014}}</ref> [[Dick Turpin]] is said to have operated in the area having his headquarters nearby in Farnborough, and there were sightings of [[Spring-heeled Jack]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Hamilton |first=Ernest |author-link=Lord Ernest Hamilton |title=Forty Years On |publisher=Hodder and Stoughton |year=1922 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/fortyyearson00hami/page/163 163]–164 |url=https://archive.org/details/fortyyearson00hami}}</ref><ref>"Our Camp Letter" – ''Surrey and Hants News & Guildford Times'' – 14 December 1878, section ''Aldershot Gazette''</ref><ref>Judge Advocate General's Office: General Courts Martial charge sheets: 1877–1880 – the National Archives, Kew</ref>

===Growth in the Victorian era===
In 1854, at the time of the [[Crimean War]], [[Aldershot Garrison]] was established as the first permanent training camp for the [[British Army]].<ref name="Army1"/> This led to a rapid expansion of Aldershot's population, going from 875 in 1851 to in excess of 16,000 by 1861 (including about 9,000 from the military). [[Louisa Daniell|Mrs Louisa Daniell]] arrived in the town at this time and set up her Soldiers' Home and Institute to cater for the spiritual needs of the soldiers and their families. During this period [[Holy Trinity Church, Aldershot|Holy Trinity church]], the [[Presbyterian Church, Aldershot|Presbyterian church]], the [[Wesleyan Church, Aldershot|Wesleyan church]] and [[Rotunda, Aldershot|Rotunda chapel]] were built in the town centre to cater for the spiritual needs of the increasing numbers of troops in the nearby camp and the growing civilian town. In August 1856, on her return from the Crimean War and "wishing to be with her sons in the Army", [[Mary Seacole]] with her business partner Thomas Day is said to have arrived in Aldershot where they attempted to open a canteen. In her autobiography, Seacole wrote: 'We set to bravely at Aldershott to retrieve our fallen fortunes, and stem off the ruin originated in the Crimea, but all in vain...'.<ref>[[Mary Seacole|Seacole, Mary]], ''Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands'', James Blackwood (1857), pg. 169</ref> The venture is believed to have failed through lack of funds and the two being declared bankrupt.<ref>[http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-41194 Mary Jane Seacole] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102084606/https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-41194 |date=2 January 2022 }} - [[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]], 2006</ref><ref>[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/21935/page/3526 Petition for adjudication of Bankruptcy against Mary Seacole and Thomas Day the younger] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412110053/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/21935/page/3526 |date=12 April 2020 }} - ''[[The London Gazette]]'', 28 October 1856 Issue:21935 Page:3526</ref><ref>Alan Palmer, [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-41194 Seacole née Grant, Mary Jane (1805–1881)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320184851/https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-41194 |date=20 March 2020 }} - [[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]] (ODNB) Published online: 23 September 2004 This version: 25 May 2006</ref>

===Aldershot Military Tattoo===
The Aldershot [[Military Tattoo]] was an annual event dating back to 1894. In the 1920s and 1930s, the Aldershot Command Searchlight Tattoo held at the [[Rushmoor Arena]] presented displays from all branches of the services, including performances lit by flame torches. At one time the performances attracted crowds of up to 500,000 people. The Tattoo was organised to raise money for military charities. By the end of the 1930s, the event was raising around £40,000 annually.<ref name="Military Tattoo">{{Cite web |title=The Aldershot Command Searchlight Tattoos |publisher=[[Aldershot Military Museum]] |url=http://www3.hants.gov.uk/aldershot-museum/local-history-aldershot/aldershot-tattoo.htm |access-date=2 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408111840/http://www3.hants.gov.uk/aldershot-museum/local-history-aldershot/aldershot-tattoo.htm |archive-date=8 April 2014}}</ref> The Tattoo's modern format, the Army Show, was cancelled in 2010 by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] due to budget cuts.<ref name="Army Show">{{Cite news |title=Aldershot army show 2010 to be axed |publisher=[[Trinity Mirror|Get Hampshire]] |url=http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2065767_aldershot_army_show_2010_to_be_axed |author=Pete Castle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312152124/http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2065767_aldershot_army_show_2010_to_be_axed |archive-date=12 March 2012 |access-date=2 April 2014}}</ref> It was briefly revived the following year and attracted 20,000 visitors. In 2012, it was styled as the Aldershot Garrison Show, a smaller free event held on [[Armed Forces Day (United Kingdom)|Armed Forces Day]].<ref name="Garrison Show">{{Cite web |title=Aldershot Garrison Show 2012 |url=http://www.armyshow.co.uk/menu.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213073204/http://www.armyshow.co.uk/menu.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 February 2011 |publisher=Aldershot Garrison |access-date=2 April 2014}}</ref>

The Army Show was replaced in 2013 with a general Military Festival. Events were held across the town, including an art exhibition, live music, sports events and film screenings.<ref name="Military Festival">{{cite news |title=First military festival goes off with a bang |publisher=[[Trinity Mirror|Get Hampshire]] |url=http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/local-news/first-military-festival-goes-bang-5347706 |author=Pete Bryant |date=12 July 2013 |access-date=3 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030113529/http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/local-news/first-military-festival-goes-bang-5347706 |archive-date=30 October 2013 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===During the World Wars===
In 1914, Aldershot had the largest army camp in the country, with 20% of the [[British Army]] being based in and around the town. Aldershot was home for two Infantry Divisions and a Cavalry Brigade in addition to large numbers of artillery, engineers, service corps and medical services. At the start of [[World War I]], the units based at Aldershot became the 1st Corps of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War I)|British Expeditionary Force]], and soon tens of thousands of new recruits came to the large training centre in the Camp. This had a great effect on the civilian town as there was a great shortage of accommodation for the troops and many were billeted in local houses and schools. Aldershot played a vital role in the formation of [[Kitchener's Army]], providing the core of the Army from 1914 onwards as well as treating the wounded brought back from the trenches in France and Flanders. The [[Cambridge Military Hospital]] was the first base hospital to receive casualties directly from the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] and it was here that [[plastic surgery]] was first performed in the [[British Empire]] by Captain Gillies (later Sir [[Harold Gillies]]).<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02pb3t4 Aldershot: The Home Of The British Army in WW1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501083452/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02pb3t4 |date=1 May 2017 }} - [[BBC]] 'World War I at Home'</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.qaranc.co.uk/cambridgemilitaryhospital.php |title=Cambridge Military Hospital CMH Aldershot |access-date=14 June 2019 |archive-date=3 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403145145/https://www.qaranc.co.uk/cambridgemilitaryhospital.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 1939 to 1945 during [[World War II]],<ref name=Wartime>{{Cite web |url=http://wartimecanada.ca/document/world-war-ii/demobilization/canadians-leave-aldershot |title=The Canadians leave Aldershot - Wartime Canada database |access-date=14 June 2019 |archive-date=22 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222032054/http://wartimecanada.ca/document/world-war-ii/demobilization/canadians-leave-aldershot |url-status=live }}</ref> about 330,000 Canadian troops of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigades passed through Aldershot for training before being deployed for the defence of the United Kingdom while much of the British Army was overseas. Additional units of the Canadian Army followed later creating the largest force of British Commonwealth troops ever to be stationed in the UK at one time.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.canadianrootsuk.org/historycanadiansuk.html |title=History of Canadians stationed in UK - Canadian Roots UK |access-date=14 June 2019 |archive-date=5 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105092606/http://www.canadianrootsuk.org/historycanadiansuk.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Aldershot riot (1945)|Aldershot riot]] of July 1945 caused considerable damage to the town centre when disgruntled Canadian troops tired of waiting to be repatriated rioted in the streets for two evenings.<ref>[http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/78782056 'Aldershot Canadians Riot Again'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220150835/http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/78782056 |date=20 December 2016 }} ''[[Daily News (Perth, Western Australia)|Daily News]]'' - 5 July 1945</ref> In a gesture of forgiveness and goodwill, the Freedom of the Borough of Aldershot was conferred on the Canadian Army on 26 September 1945 in a ceremony held at the town's [[Recreation Ground (Aldershot)|recreation ground]].<ref name=Wartime/><ref>{{cite news |date=28 September 1945 |title=Canadian Army Receives Freedom<br>Aldershot Greets Dominion<br>Smart Representative Unit<br>General's Friendly Reply |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/879901307/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=18 August 2025 |newspaper=Aldershot News and Military Gazette<br>Franbrough Chronicle & Fleet Times |page=Front Page |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> In the following year Aldershot's [[military prison]] the [[Aldershot military prison|'Glasshouse']] was burned down in prison riots.<ref>[http://www.townsinbritain.co.uk/hampshireattractions/glasshouse.html The Aldershot 'Glasshouse'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413235235/http://www.townsinbritain.co.uk/hampshireattractions/glasshouse.html |date=13 April 2017 }} - [[Aldershot Military Museum]] website</ref>

===Post War===
[[File:Former town hall, Grosvenor Road, Aldershot (geograph 4205293).jpg|thumb|Aldershot Town Hall]]
A substantial rebuilding of the barracks was carried out between 1961 and 1969 by the architecture and engineering firm [[Building Design Partnership]]. The work was sped up under government pressure, and various new building technologies were employed with mixed success.<ref name="Army1"/>

In 1974, Aldershot borough, which had been based at [[Aldershot Town Hall]], merged with Farnborough [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban district]] to form the [[Rushmoor|Borough of Rushmoor]] under the provisions of the [[Local Government Act 1972]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Local Government Act 1972. 1972 c.70 |publisher=The Stationery Office Ltd |isbn=0-10-547072-4 |year=1997}}</ref>

After a [[Gurkha Justice Campaign|2009 campaign]], the British Government allowed veteran [[Gurkha]] soldiers who had served for more than four years, and their families, to settle in the UK.<ref name="Gurkhas">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8060607.stm |title=Gurkhas win right to settle in UK |work=BBC News |date=21 May 2009 |access-date=19 May 2012}}</ref> The rise in the Nepalese population led [[Gerald Howarth]], [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] Member of Parliament for Aldershot, to request government assistance in expanding local public services to meet the needs of the growing population.<ref name="Howarth Letter">{{cite web |url=http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2087535_gerald_howarths_nepalese_immigration_letter_in_full |title=Gerald Howarth's Nepalese immigration letter in full |date=14 February 2011 |publisher=[[Trinity Mirror|Get Hampshire]] |access-date=19 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107030312/http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2087535_gerald_howarths_nepalese_immigration_letter_in_full |archive-date=7 November 2012}}</ref>

===1972 bombing===
{{Main|1972 Aldershot bombing}}
On 22 February 1972, Aldershot experienced the first in a series of [[Great Britain|mainland]] IRA attacks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woollacott |first=Martin |date=2009-02-23 |title=From the archives, 23 February 1972: IRA kills 7 in raid on Paras' English base |url=http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2009/feb/23/ira-bomb-paras-aldershot-1972 |access-date=2021-04-01 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> Seven people, six of whom were civilian support staff, including five catering staff and a gardener were killed in a [[car bomb]] attack on the 16th Parachute Brigade headquarters [[mess]]. A further 19 people were injured. The bombing was claimed by the [[Official IRA]] as revenge for the [[Bloody Sunday (1972)|Bloody Sunday]] massacre.<ref name="IRA bombing">{{Cite news |title=On This Day – 1972: IRA bomb kills six at Aldershot barracks |work=[[BBC News]] |date=22 February 1972 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/22/newsid_2519000/2519029.stm |access-date=3 April 2014}}</ref> The only army officer killed was Captain Gerry Weston, a [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] British Army chaplain. An area to be developed into a memorial garden was used to mark the 40th anniversary of the bombing in 2012.<ref name="Bombing memorial">{{Cite web |title=Aldershot Barracks: IRA bombing 40th anniversary marked |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-17124016 |date=22 February 2012 |access-date=3 April 2014}}</ref>

==Aldershot Military Town==
{{main|Aldershot Garrison}}
[[File:aldershotmilitarytown.jpg|thumb|right|Sign for Aldershot Military Town]]
Aldershot Military Town is located between Aldershot and North Camp near [[Farnborough, Hampshire|Farnborough]]. It is a [[garrison|garrison town]] that serves as the location for the military presence in the area. It houses Aldershot Garrison's married quarters, barracks, Army playing fields and other sporting facilities. The military town includes some local landmarks, such as the [[Aldershot Observatory]], [[Aldershot Military Cemetery]], the [[Union Building, Aldershot|Union Building]], the Royal Garrison Church and other churches. Until 1993, the town served as headquarters for the [[Royal Corps of Transport]] and the [[Army Catering Corps]], until they were merged into the [[Royal Logistic Corps]] and moved to [[Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut]].

[[Queen Victoria]] and [[Albert, Prince Consort|Prince Albert]] showed a keen interest in the establishment and development of Aldershot as a garrison town in the 1850s, at the time of the [[Crimean War]]. They had a wooden [[Royal Pavilion, Aldershot|Royal Pavilion]] built, where they would often stay when attending reviews of the army. In 1860, Albert established and endowed the [[Prince Consort's Library]], which still exists today. To celebrate Queen Victoria's [[Queen Victoria#Diamond Jubilee|Diamond Jubilee]] in 1897, 25,000 British and Colonial soldiers marched from Laffan's Plain near Farnborough, reviewed by Queen Victoria. The Colonial soldiers included men from Canada, India, Africa, Australia and New Zealand .<ref name="Victoria Jubilee">{{Cite web |title=The Canadian Army Comes To Aldershot |publisher=[[Aldershot Military Museum]] |url=http://www.hants.gov.uk/aldershot-museum/local-history-aldershot/canadian-army-aldershot.htm |access-date=2 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120102553/http://www3.hants.gov.uk/aldershot-museum/local-history-aldershot/canadian-army-aldershot.htm |archive-date=20 November 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[File:Princeconsortslibrary.jpg|thumb|right|The Prince Consort's Library in the military town]]

Aldershot Military Town comes under its own military jurisdiction. It was home to the [[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]] from its formation in 1940 until it moved to [[Colchester Garrison]] in 2003. Many famous people have been associated with the Military Town, including [[Charlie Chaplin]], who made his first stage appearance in ''The Canteen'' theatre aged 5 in 1894,<ref>Chaplin, Charlie ''[[My Autobiography (Chaplin)|My Autobiography]]'' Published by [[Simon & Schuster]] (1964)</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/details/chaplinmirrorofo0000robi/page/6 Robinson, David ''Chaplin: The Mirror of Opinion''] Martin Secker & Warburg Limited, London (1983) {{ISBN|0-436-42053-8}}</ref> and [[Winston Churchill]], who was based there in the late 19th century during his time in the Army.<ref>[http://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=7768 Beaumont Riding School and Beaumont Riding Stables] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927074951/http://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=7768 |date=27 September 2011}} on the [[Rushmoor Borough Council]] website</ref>

The area also houses various military and regimental museums, including the [[Royal Army Physical Training Corps Museum]] and the [[Aldershot Military Museum]], housed in a red-brick [[Victorian era|Victorian]] barracks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.hants.gov.uk/aldershot-museum |title=Aldershot Military Museum. Hampshire Days Out |publisher=.hants.gov.uk |date=29 April 2013 |access-date=29 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426073019/http://www3.hants.gov.uk/aldershot-museum |archive-date=26 April 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Until December 2007, the [[Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Museum]] was in Aldershot. It has since moved to the [[Imperial War Museum Duxford]]. The [[RAMC Memorial, Aldershot|RAMC Memorial]] to the 314 men of the [[Royal Army Medical Corps]] who lost their lives in the [[Second Boer War|Boer War]] of 1899-1902 is located at the top of Gun Hill.

An outline planning application has been agreed for the redevelopment of some of the former Military Town. The Aldershot Urban Extension will bring some 3,850 new homes, two new primary schools, a children's day-care centre, additional secondary school places, community facilities, waste recycling and landscaping to an area of 150 hectares.

In 2013, the MoD announced a £100&nbsp;million investment to expand Aldershot Garrison and bring 750 more service personnel and their families to settle in Aldershot.<ref name=milExpansion>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-21675514 |title=Aldershot receives £100m as part of Germany troop withdrawal |work=BBC News |date=6 March 2013 |access-date=15 August 2013}}</ref>

==Landmarks==
===Wellington Statue===
[[File:Wellington Monument, Aldershot - geograph.org.uk - 1743310.jpg|thumb|160px|right|Equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington on Round Hill]]
{{Main|Wellington Statue Aldershot}}

A statue of the first [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]] mounted on his horse, Copenhagen, is situated on Round Hill behind the Royal Garrison Church. The statue is {{cvt|30|ft|m}} high, {{cvt|26|ft|m}} from nose to tail, over {{cvt|22|ft|m}} in girth, weighs 40 tons and is intricately detailed including musculature and veins. It was designed and built by [[Matthew Cotes Wyatt]] who used recycled bronze from cannons that were captured at the [[Battle of Waterloo]]. It took thirty men over three years to finish the project.

Originally, in 1846, the statue was erected at [[Hyde Park Corner]], London on the [[Wellington Arch]]. However, [[Decimus Burton]], architect of the arch, had tried to veto this plan for his preferred "figure in a four horse chariot". Many agreed with Decimus Burton that the statue looked ridiculous since it was out of proportion. It was nicknamed "The Archduke" and was a popular topic in the satirical magazine ''[[Punch (magazine)|Punch]]''.

Queen Victoria claimed that the statue ruined the view of the skyline from [[Buckingham Palace]], and she privately proposed that the statue be moved. The Duke, who had only sat for the sculptor on two or three occasions, suddenly became very attached to the statue and would not consider its removal from its arch.

In 1885, the [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|Prince of Wales]] handed over the monument to Lieutenant General Anderson, the commander of the Aldershot Garrison.

===Aldershot Observatory===
{{Main|Aldershot Observatory}}
[[File:Aldershot observatory 01.JPG|thumb|160px|right|Aldershot Observatory]]

The observatory is a circular red-brick building with a domed roof and it stands on Queen's Avenue. Inside is a [[telescope]], 8-inch [[refractor]], mounted on a German-type [[equatorial mount]] with a [[clockwork]] drive. The telescope and observatory building were a gift from aviation pioneer [[Patrick Young Alexander]] to the British Army, a fact which is recorded by a plaque near the observatory door. It reads: "Presented to the Aldershot Army Corps by Patrick Y Alexander Esq 1906".

===The Wesleyan Church===
{{Main|Wesleyan Church, Aldershot}}

The former [[Wesleyan Methodist Church (Great Britain)|Wesleyan]] church on Grosvenor Road has a 100-foot tower that can be seen for miles around the town and which is described as "the only significant tower in the town".<ref>[https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101155955-aldershot-methodist-church-rushmoor#.W_VrW2dLG7Q The Wesleyan Methodist Church, Aldershot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215122927/https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101155955-aldershot-methodist-church-rushmoor#.W_VrW2dLG7Q |date=15 December 2018 }} - the [[Historic England]] Listed Buildings database</ref> Opened in 1877, the church served the [[Methodist Church of Great Britain|Methodists]] of Aldershot for over 100 years and could seat 1,150 people until its closure in 1988. Today, the original complex of church, Soldiers' Home and Hall, has been converted into offices, a dental surgery, gymnasium and homes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aldershotcivicsociety.org.uk/bygone/html/about-the-aldershot-bygone-aldershot-churches.htm |title=Bygone Aldershot Churches - Aldershot Civic Society website |access-date=21 November 2018 |archive-date=24 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024170035/http://www.aldershotcivicsociety.org.uk/bygone/html/about-the-aldershot-bygone-aldershot-churches.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=History>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aldershot-methodist.org.uk/index/pages/history_of_the_methodist_church_.htm |title=The History of Methodism in Aldershot - Aldershot Methodist Church website |access-date=21 November 2018 |archive-date=12 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712173609/http://aldershot-methodist.org.uk/index/pages/history_of_the_methodist_church_.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Aldershot Buddhist Centre===
{{main|Aldershot Buddhist Centre}}
[[File:Aldershot Buddhist Centre 2018.jpg|thumb|160px|right|Aldershot Buddhist Centre in 2018]]

Aldershot Buddhist Centre is a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] temple and [[community centre]] catering for the Buddhists of Aldershot and surrounding area, which is billed as the United Kingdom's first Buddhist community centre.<ref name=BBC/> With the influx of large numbers of [[Nepalis]] into the area in recent years giving [[Rushmoor]] the largest Buddhist community in the United Kingdom,<ref name=BBC>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-33312123 Dalai Lama defies protesters to open Aldershot Buddhist centre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217174903/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-33312123 |date=17 December 2018 }} - [[BBC News]] 29 June 2015</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thebuddhistcentre.com/news/where-are-most-buddhists-england-and-wales |title=Where are the most Buddhists in England and Wales? - The Buddhist Centre - 16 June 2015 |access-date=16 December 2018 |archive-date=16 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216163626/https://thebuddhistcentre.com/news/where-are-most-buddhists-england-and-wales |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=EeXMDQAAQBAJ&dq=aldershot+buddhist+centre&pg=PA38 Ana-Maria Pascal (ed), ''Multiculturalism and the Convergence of Faith and Practical Wisdom in Modern Society''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126050428/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=EeXMDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA38&lpg=PA38&dq=aldershot+buddhist+centre&source=bl&ots=WKuHHsfUrA&sig=8Cl3AFIPeT3H_icFhpIP1KVDsVk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiAoczBnKTfAhUHzKQKHW1mD8g4KBDoATACegQICBAB#v=onepage&q=aldershot%20buddhist%20centre&f=false |date=26 November 2022 }}, IGI Global (2017) - [[Google Books]] pg 38</ref> a temple and community centre to cater for their spiritual and secular needs was required. The centre was formally opened on the High Street by the [[14th Dalai Lama]] in June 2015.<ref name=BBC/><ref name=Centre>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bccuk.co.uk/about |title=About the Centre - Buddhist Community Centre UK website |access-date=16 December 2018 |archive-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122115249/http://www.bccuk.co.uk/about |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Union Building===
{{main|Union Building, Aldershot}}
[[File:Union Building Aldershot 1870.jpg|thumb|right|The Union Building in 1870]]

When a small party of [[Non-commissioned officer|NCO]]s and men of the [[Royal Engineers]] arrived in November 1853 in the area that is today [[Princes Gardens, Aldershot|Princes Gardens]], they were the first soldiers to arrive in Aldershot. At this time, the area was heathland with the only building in sight being the [[Union Building, Aldershot|Union Poor House]], built in 1629 as a sub-manor for the [[Tichborne baronets|Tichborne family]] and later used as the local workhouse and a school. It was one of five permanent local buildings purchased by the [[War Department (United Kingdom)|War Department]] in 1854 as part of the development of the new Aldershot Camp, and was used by the Army from 1854 to 1879 as No 2 Station Hospital. In later years, it saw a variety of uses before being redeveloped as flats.

==Transport==
[[File:Aldershot railway station.JPG|thumb|The exterior of the station in February 2009]]

[[Aldershot railway station]] is a stop on the [[Alton Line]]; [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]] runs services between [[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]], [[Alton railway station|Alton]], [[Guildford railway station|Guildford]] and [[Ascot railway station (Berkshire)|Ascot]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetables |work=South Western Railway |date=May 2023 |access-date=5 October 2023 |url= https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/timetables}}</ref>

Aldershot is close to several major roads, including the [[M3 motorway (Great Britain)|M3]] and the [[A3 road|A3]]. Its nearest dual-carriageway roads are the [[A31 road|A31]] to the south, which heads east towards [[Guildford]] and the A3; to the east, the [[A331 road|A331]] which heads north towards Farnborough and the M3.

Bus services from Aldershot are provided by [[Stagecoach South]]. Since the closure of Aldershot bus station in May 2023, passengers now access services at various on-street stops around the town centre. [[National Express Coaches|National Express]] coach services operate between [[Victoria Coach Station|London Victoria]] and [[Portsmouth]] twice a day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stops in Aldershot |work=Bus Times |date=2023 |access-date=5 October 2023 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/aldershot}}</ref>

[[Farnborough Airport]] is located {{convert|5|miles}} away, with [[Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]] {{convert|29|miles}} and [[Gatwick Airport|Gatwick]] {{convert|43|miles}} away.

==Education==
[[File:Alderwood School Aldershot 2018.jpg|thumb|right|Alderwood School is the town's only secondary school]]

There are various schools in Aldershot. These will be joined by two new primary schools being built as part of the Aldershot Urban extension development of 3,850 houses. This development will also be served by a further 675 secondary school places being created at the Alderwood and Wavell schools.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

Primary schools include Park Primary and St Michael's (C of E). The infant schools are Talavera, Wellington Primary and Bell Vue Infant School.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.locallife.co.uk/aldershot/infants3.asp |title=Aldershot infant schools |access-date=7 February 2008 |archive-date=6 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206154105/http://www.locallife.co.uk/aldershot/infants3.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> Junior schools include: Newport County, Talavera, Wellington Secondary and St Joseph's Primary (Catholic).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.locallife.co.uk/aldershot/infants3.asp |title=Junior schools |access-date=7 February 2008 |archive-date=6 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206154105/http://www.locallife.co.uk/aldershot/infants3.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>

Aldershot has only one secondary school, [[Alderwood School]] (formerly Heron Wood School and The Connaught School), though [[Ash Manor School]], [[Farnham Heath End School]], [[All Hallows Catholic School]] and [[The Wavell School]] are all local.<ref>[http://www.hants.gov.uk/education/schools/schools.php?dfes=4312 Secondary Schools] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216134009/http://www.hants.gov.uk/education/schools/schools.php?dfes=4312 |date=16 February 2007 }}</ref> In the town's West End can be found [[Rowhill School, Aldershot|Rowhill School]], a special school for students of secondary age unable to attend mainstream schooling for a variety of reasons. There are also two private schools, [[Salesian College, Farnborough|Salesian College]] and [[Farnborough Hill School]] in nearby Farnborough.

==Local newspapers==
The local press is the ''Aldershot News & Mail'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Aldershot News & Mail |url=https://www.abc.org.uk/product/33-aldershot-news-mail |website=Audit Bureau of Circulations |access-date=23 October 2022 |language=en-gb}}</ref> a [[Surrey Advertiser Group]] [[broadsheet]]. At the end of November 2017, the ''Surrey-Hants Star Courier'', a free tabloid, ceased publication.<ref name="2017-publisher-to-close-weekly">
*{{cite news |title=Trinity Mirror to close Surrey & Hants Star Courier |url=https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2017/news/regional-publisher-to-close-weekly-as-five-jobs-put-at-risk/ |access-date=23 October 2022 |work=HoldtheFrontPage |date=15 November 2017}}
*{{cite web |title=Surrey & Hants Star Courier July 2008 - June 2017 |url=https://www.abc.org.uk/product/15849-surrey-hants-star-courier |website=Audit Bureau of Circulations |access-date=23 October 2022 |language=en-gb}}
*{{cite web |title=Surrey-Hants Star |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/surreyhants-star |website=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |access-date=23 October 2022}}
*{{cite news |title=Hampshire News |url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/hampshire-news/ |access-date=23 October 2022 |work=[[Surrey Live]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228100137/https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/hampshire-news/ |archive-date=28 February 2022 |quote=We have taken the decision to close gethampshire.co.uk, but we will still be providing coverage from Aldershot, Farnborough, Fleet, Yateley and surrounding areas.}}</ref>

==Leisure and recreation==
[[File:Princes Hall Aldershot 2016.jpg|thumb|right|The Princes Hall is Aldershot's main entertainment venue]]

Following the demolition of the [[Theatre Royal, Aldershot|Theatre Royal]] and [[Hippodrome, Aldershot|Hippodrome]] theatres in 1959 and 1961, the local council opened its own [[Princes Hall]] in 1973 as an entertainment venue.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.princeshall.com/article/3585/History |title=History of the Princes Hall, Aldershot – the Princes Hall website |access-date=23 June 2014 |archive-date=29 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329051202/http://www.princeshall.com/article/3585/History |url-status=live }}</ref> Another entertainment venue and [[arts centre]] is the [[West End Centre, Aldershot|West End Centre]] on Queens Road which is popular for small-scale theatre, music and comedy.<ref name=House>[http://housetheatre.org.uk/venues/west-end-centre/ West End Centre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001200231/http://housetheatre.org.uk/venues/west-end-centre/ |date=1 October 2016 }} on the House Theatre ([[Farnham Maltings]]) website</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.visit-hampshire.co.uk/things-to-do/west-end-centre-p236221 |title=The West End Centre on Visit Hampshire |access-date=30 September 2016 |archive-date=1 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001204510/http://www.visit-hampshire.co.uk/things-to-do/west-end-centre-p236221 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Music and dance===
====The Beatles in Aldershot====
[[File:Beatles Aldershot poster 1961.jpeg|thumb|upright|Poster for the appearance of The Beatles at Aldershot in 1961]]

Sam Leach, their then agent who wanted to become their manager, attempted to introduce [[the Beatles]] to London agents by promoting shows at The Palais Ballroom, on the corner of Perowne Street and Queens Road<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.triumphpc.com/mersey-beat/beatles/aldershot.shtml |title=The Beatles in Aldershot on The Mersey Beat website |access-date=17 July 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095027/http://www.triumphpc.com/mersey-beat/beatles/aldershot.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.beatlesbible.com/1961/12/09/live-palais-ballroom-aldershot/ |title=The Beatles at the Palais Ballroom in Aldershot – The Beatles Bible website |date=9 December 1961 |access-date=17 July 2015 |archive-date=21 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721102233/http://www.beatlesbible.com/1961/12/09/live-palais-ballroom-aldershot/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[[Howard N. Cole]], ''The Story of Aldershot: a History of the Civil and Military Towns'', Southern Books, Aldershot (1980) p. 300</ref> in Aldershot on 9 December 1961. Leach wanted to organise a 'battle of the bands' between The Beatles and [[Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers|Ivor Jay and the Jaywalkers]] from London. The show was not advertised properly and, as a result, only 18 people attended. The local newspaper, ''The Aldershot News'', failed to publish Leach's advertisement for the show. In addition, Ivor Jay and the Jaywalkers failed to appear. However, the band and friends had their own fun after the show, drinking ale, playing football with bingo balls and dancing the foxtrot. The noise became so loud that a neighbour called the police who shut the event down. When interviewed in 1983 about the Aldershot gig, [[Paul McCartney]] described it as "the night we couldn't get arrested, but it wasn't for the lack of trying".<ref name=Live/> Weeks after this [[Brian Epstein]] became the group's manager.<ref name=Live>[https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/hampshire-news/time-beatles-came-aldershot-play-7256939 The time The Beatles came to Aldershot to play for just 18 people] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702071636/https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/hampshire-news/time-beatles-came-aldershot-play-7256939 |date=2 July 2022 }}, 'Hampshire Live', 26 June 2022</ref>

====Hardcore====
The Palace (previously The Palace Cinema, The Rhythm Station, Cheeks, Vox), influenced the rapid growth of the [[Hardcore techno|hardcore]] scene from 1992 to 1995.{{Citation needed|date=April 2014}} At the height of the club's popularity, a teenager's death from a suspected overdose of [[MDMA|ecstasy]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ecstasy-may-have-caused-teenagers-nightclub-death-1326383.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407121341/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/ecstasy-may-have-caused-teenagers-nightclub-death-1326383.html |archive-date=2014-04-07 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |title=Ecstasy may have caused teenager's nightclub death |work=The Independent |date=29 January 1996 |access-date=15 August 2013}}</ref> was the catalyst that saw dance music leaving the club and had a negative impact on the hardcore dance scene in the Aldershot area.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

===Shopping===
[[File:West Gate Leisure Park Aldershot.jpg|thumb|right|West Gate Leisure Park]]

Union Street and Wellington Street at the centre of the town's shopping district were pedestrianised in the 1970s when the Wellington Centre, a covered shopping centre, was built over the site of the town's former open-air market. As of 2020, Union Street East is undergoing regeneration; the project has been referred to as Union Yard.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/town-centres-and-regeneration/union-yard/|title=Union Yard|website=Rushmoor Borough Council|accessdate=15 December 2023}}</ref>

During the 1980s and 1990s, the Victorian shopping arcade and various other period buildings in Wellington Street were demolished to allow for the building of an extension to the Wellington Centre known as ''The Galleries.'' The Galleries has remained almost vacant for many years now and is currently under consideration for proposed redevelopment into a mixed use retail and residential scheme, with potential commercial leisure space.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=15740&p=0 |title=The Galleries, key information and delivery approach |pages=44–45 |date=January 2016 |work=Aldershot Town Centre Prospectus Supplementary Planning Document |publisher=Rushmoor Borough Council |access-date=6 October 2018 |archive-date=6 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006194643/https://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=15740&p=0 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2003, a health check of the town centre concluded that, "Aldershot is experiencing promising signs of revitalisation, particularly in the shopping core".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/media/adobepdf/tchc.pdf |title=Town Centre Health Checks Cttee report PLN01/63 |access-date=4 September 2006 |year=2003 |publisher=[[Rushmoor|Rushmoor Borough Council]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927013032/http://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/media/adobepdf/tchc.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref> This revitalisation failed to materialise, with prominent traders such as [[Marks and Spencer]] leaving the town centre.

In 2005, Rushmoor Borough Council documented the percentage of vacant shops at 10%, 8% and 7% respectively for Union Street, the Wellington Centre and Wellington Street.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1452 |title=Technical Appendix: Percentage of Vacancies and Planning Applications affecting the town centre. |access-date=4 September 2006 |year=2005 |publisher=[[Rushmoor|Rushmoor Borough Council]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040315103936/http://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1452 |archive-date=15 March 2004 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The Westgate Leisure Park, which opened in 2012–2013 and which fronts onto Barrack Road, includes a [[Cineworld]] cinema, a [[Morrisons]] supermarket and several chain restaurants, including [[Nando's]], Mimosa and [[Pizza Express]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.westgate-leisure.co.uk/eat-out-at-westgate-leisure |title=Westgate Restaurants |access-date=12 September 2014 |year=2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913012524/http://www.westgate-leisure.co.uk/eat-out-at-westgate-leisure |archive-date=13 September 2014}}</ref> There is also a [[Tesco]] superstore located at the rear of the development.

==Parks and open spaces==
[[File:Municipal Gardens Aldershot Cenotaph.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Cenotaph]] in Municipal Gardens, Aldershot]]

Aldershot has many parks, playgrounds and open spaces for sport, play and leisure, including [[Aldershot Park]], [[Brickfields Country Park]], the [[Municipal Gardens, Aldershot|Municipal Gardens]], [[Manor Park, Aldershot|Manor Park]] and the [[Princes Gardens, Aldershot|Princes Gardens]], the latter three a short walk from the town centre.

The legacy of the Army has meant that the land for leisure use, as well as protected areas for flora and fauna, has been preserved over many years. On the [[Surrey]] border can be found [[Rowhill Nature Reserve]], which is popular with nature-lovers, dog owners, walkers and joggers.

==Sport==
Sports facilities include the Rushmoor Gymnastics Academy, Aldershot Tennis Centre, Aldershot [[Bowling]], Aldershot Pools and [[Lido (swimming pool)|Lido]], Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre, Alderwood Leisure Centre (formerly Connaught Leisure Centre) and Alpine Snow Sports (Dry Ski Centre). Formerly the town also hosted short circuit motor racing including [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]] and [[stock car racing]]. [[Greyhound racing]] took place at Aldershot Stadium, and [[Point-to-point (steeplechase)|point-to-point racing]] at [[Tweseldown Racecourse|Tweseldown]]. The running club AFD has produced some top runners. [[Aldershot Park]] hosts a number of sports facilities and organisations.<ref name="AP">{{cite web |title=Rushmoor Council: Aldershot Park |url=https://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/community-parks-and-leisure/parks-and-outdoors/parks-and-playgrounds/aldershot-park-and-play-area/ |access-date=26 September 2022}}</ref>

===Athletics===
Aldershot is home to one of the most successful athletics clubs in British and European history, [[Aldershot, Farnham and District Athletics Club|Aldershot, Farnham & District A.C.]] The club has produced many Olympians including [[Roger Hackney]], [[Zola Budd]], [[Lily Partridge]] and [[Stephanie Twell|Steph Twell]] and specialises in [[Middle-distance running|middle]]–[[Long-distance running|long]] distance running. The home of [[Aldershot, Farnham and District Athletic Club|AFD]], as it is commonly known, is the Aldershot Military Stadium, Aldershot. Blackwater Valley Runners are a social running club and organise many local races.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blackwater Valley Runners |url=http://bvrunners.org.uk/ |access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>

===Swimming===
Opened in 1930, Aldershot Lido is a traditional outdoor leisure pool that contains 1.5 million gallons of water situated on a {{cvt|10|acre|ha|adj=on}} site. The original land was a lake that had become overgrown with weeds. It was bought by the Borough Council in 1920 for £21,000 and was the focus of the council's improvement projects for the town. The Lido became an Olympic venue in 1948 when it was the site of the swimming event in the Modern Pentathlon of that year's London Olympic Games. The pool has extensive areas of shallow water for children to play including a large fountain at the centre. It also has a diving area and water slides. There is an adjoining 25 m indoor pool that allows all year round swimming.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

===Football===
[[File:Recreation Ground - 1 - geograph-992787.jpg|thumb|Aldershot Town warming up at the Recreation Ground]]

The local professional football team is [[Aldershot Town F.C.|Aldershot Town]] who compete in the [[Football Conference]]. Before 1992 the local club was [[Aldershot F.C.|Aldershot]], which folded on 25 March 1992, while playing in the [[Football League Fourth Division]]. The current club was formed shortly afterwards and achieved five promotions in its first 16 seasons to return to the Football League in 2008. The previous Aldershot club's biggest success arguably came in 1987, just five years before closure, when they became the first team to win the Football League Fourth Division promotion play-offs, at the expense of a far bigger club – [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/aldershot/7337126.stm |title=Rise of the Phoenix |work=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=15 April 2008 |date=15 April 2008}}</ref>

Since 1927, the main football ground in the town, and home of both teams, is the [[Recreation Ground (Aldershot)|Recreation Ground]], also known as ''The Rec''. It has a capacity for 7,100, of which 2,000 can be seated.

A number of successful current and former footballers are from the Aldershot area, including [[Johnny Berry]], who was born in the town in 1926. He played for [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] and [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] before his playing career was ended by injuries sustained in the [[Munich air disaster]] on 6 February 1958. He had won three league title medals with Manchester United. He later returned to Aldershot and continued to live locally until he died in September 1994, at the age of 68.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

Other footballers born in Aldershot include [[Craig Maskell]] (a striker for clubs including [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]], [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] and [[Reading F.C.|Reading]]) during the 1980s and 1990s, and [[Bruce Rioch]] (who played for clubs including [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] and [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] before managing clubs including [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] and [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]).

On 25 October 2011, Aldershot Town played Manchester United at the Recreation Ground in the [[League Cup]] 4th round losing 3–0, their most successful run to-date in the [[League Cup|Carling Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Magowan |first1=Alistair |title=Aldershot 0-3 Man Utd |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15346355 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=8 August 2014 |date=25 October 2011}}</ref>

===Cricket===
Aldershot Cricket Club is based in Aldershot Park in the town<ref name="AP" /> and plays in the [[Thames Valley Cricket League]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Thames Valley Cricket League: Aldershot Cricket Club |url=https://www.tvlcricket.com/clubdetails.php?ClubID=1 |access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> Army cricket matches have been played at the [[Officers Club Services Ground]], which has also played host to home matches for [[Hampshire County Cricket Club]]. Many of these matches held [[first-class cricket|first-class status]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/ground/56741.html|title=Ground profile: Officers Club Services Ground|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=9 February 2023}}</ref>

===Hockey===
Aldershot Cricket Club shares facilities with the successful Aldershot & Farnham Hockey Club which, in 2022, were looking for a more permanent base.<ref>{{cite news |work=Haslemere Herald |date=19 April 2022 |title=Aldershot & Farnham Hockey Club need new home |url=https://www.haslemereherald.com/sport/aldershot-farnham-hockey-club-need-new-home-544501 |access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>

===Rugby union===
Formerly known as ''Fleet RUFC'', the club started in 1991 as a pub side. The club was renamed ''Aldershot and Fleet RUFC'' (A&F or the Stags) after their move in 2003 from Farnborough to their current home, Aldershot Park.<ref name="AP" /> Aldershot & Fleet were successful in winning the RFU "Seal of Approval" Club of the Year 2008 for the southern region. They now play in the Hampshire 2 league.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

=== Greyhound racing ===
Greyhound racing took place regularly at the now closed [[Aldershot Stadium]] in [[Tongham]] during the 1950s.

===Stock car racing===
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2022}}
Aldershot Stadium was located in Oxenden Road, Tongham, and staged Stock Car racing for the first time on 30 October 1954.

The racing took place initially on a loose shale track inside the greyhound track; after [[Motorcycle speedway]] racing at the venue ceased, the shale track was replaced with a hard [[Asphalt concrete|tarmac]]ed surface. The track was home to the Aldershot Knights for National League team racing in 1966 and again in 1971 and 1972.

The final meeting at Oxenden Road took place on 21 November 1992. Immediately after this date, the site was cleared for construction of the A331 Blackwater Valley Road, which forms a by-pass for Aldershot and Farnborough.

=== Speedway ===
In 1929, eight meetings were held at the 25 acres Aldershot Sports Stadium on Boxall's Lane. The first of these was held on Wednesday 3 July 1929.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000727/19290706/218/0009 |title=Dirt Track Racing |website=Surrey Advertiser |date=6 July 1929 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 October 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1929record.pdf |title=1929 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=20 October 2024}}</ref> Speedway returned to Aldershot in 1950 at Aldershot Stadium. The Shots featured primarily in the third tier of the sport up to 1960.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Aldershot.htm |title=Aldershot Speedway (Tongham) |website=Defunct Speedway |access-date=20 October 2024}}</ref>

===Olympics===
Aldershot hosted three of the five events in the [[modern pentathlon]] at the [[1948 Summer Olympics|1948 London Olympics]]. The swimming was held in Aldershot Lido, Maida Gymnasium hosted the fencing and the cross-country equestrian event was held at Tweseldown. All of the Olympic equestrian events, excluding the Prix des Nations, were also held at Aldershot.<ref>[[LA84 Foundation]] [http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1948/OR1948.pdf 1948 Summer Olympics official report.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727011947/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1948/OR1948.pdf |date=27 July 2011 }} pp. 44–47.</ref> It was announced on 15 January 2008 that the Aldershot Military Town had been chosen as the official training camp for the British Olympic team ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aldershot to host GB Olympic team |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7188035.stm |access-date=23 October 2022 |work=[[news.bbc.co.uk]] |date=15 January 2008}}</ref> However, in April 2010, it was announced that [[Team GB]] would be training at [[Loughborough University]].<ref name="lboro//2010/70_teamgb-hq">{{cite web |title=Loughborough University chosen as HQ for Team GB's 2012 Olympic preparation |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/publicity/news-releases/2010/70_teamgb-hq.html |website=[[Loughborough University]] |access-date=23 October 2022 |date=14 April 2010}}</ref>

==Politics==
{{update section|date=September 2024}}

Aldershot is divided into the following wards:<ref>Map for the [http://archive.rushmoor.gov.uk/archive/maps/wards-aldershot.htm wards of Aldershot] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060527031057/http://archive.rushmoor.gov.uk/archive/maps/wards-aldershot.htm |date=27 May 2006 }}</ref><ref>Aldershot wards with respect to the [http://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleID=6042 local election of May 2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927072038/http://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleID=6042 |date=27 September 2006 }}</ref>

===Rushmoor Borough Council===
* Rowhill: south-west of the town has one [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] and two [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] councillors.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/wards-and-polling-stations/rowhill-ward/ | title=Rowhill ward - Rushmoor Borough Council}}</ref>
* Wellington: west of the town together with the northern half of the town centre, combines the most compact urban parts of the town northern part of the town centre, much of the military town and a very large acreage of unpopulated woodlands, forests and heathland. It has two Labour councillors and one Conservative councillor.
* Manor Park: south of the town and the southern half of the town centre has three Conservative councillors.
* Aldershot Park: south-east of the town has three Labour councillors.
* North Town: north-east of the town has three Labour councillors.
*St Marks: north of the town and parts of Farnborough has three Conservative councillors.

===Hampshire County Council===
* Aldershot North: the north-west of the town has one Labour councillor.
* Aldershot South: the south-east of the town has one Conservative councillor.

As of the May 2018 Rushmoor Borough Council elections and the May 2017 Hampshire County Council elections, of the 20 seats on Rushmoor Borough Council and Hampshire County Council covering Aldershot, the Conservatives hold 12 and Labour hold 8.

===Member of Parliament===
The town is represented in Parliament through the [[Aldershot (UK Parliament constituency)|Aldershot constituency]]. The current MP is [[Alex Baker]] of the Labour party.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aldershot results |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001063 |access-date=7 July 2024}}</ref>

==Notable people from Aldershot==
{{see also|List of people from Aldershot}}

[[File:Ianmcewanauthor.jpg|thumb|180px|Ian McEwan]]

* [[Holly Aird]], actress known for her role in ''[[Waking the Dead (TV series)|Waking The Dead]]''<ref name="Holly Aird">{{cite web |title=Birth records 1837–2006 |url=http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search/world-records?firstname=holly&firstname_variants=true&lastname=aird&keywordsplace=aldershot&yearofbirth=1969&yearofbirth_offset=2 |publisher=ö[[findmypast]] |access-date=3 April 2014}}</ref>
* [[John Belling]] (1866–1933), cytogeneticist was born in Aldershot
* [[Sai Bennett]], [[actress]], born in 1990 in Aldershot.{{Citation needed|reason=I simply can't supply one at the time of making this edit.|date=April 2023}}
* [[Amelle Berrabah]], singer, songwriter and former member of the Sugababes
* [[Johnny Berry]], [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] footballer and '[[Busby Babes|Busby Babe]]'
* [[Grace Dent]], food critic born in 1973 in Aldershot
* [[Arthur English]], actor and comedian, in honour of whom there is now a [[blue plaque]] at 22 Lysons Road<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-40617726 |date=15 July 2017 |title=Are You Being Served? actor Arthur English honoured with blue plaque |publisher=BBC |access-date=4 March 2018}}</ref>
* [[Russell Foster]], professor of circadian neuroscience and Nicholas Kurti Senior Fellow at Brasenose College at the University of Oxford
* [[Joel Freeland]], professional basketball player, having played for both the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] and [[CSKA Moscow]]
* [[Martin Freeman]], actor in ''[[The Office (UK TV series)|The Office]]'', ''[[The Hobbit (film series)|The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[Sherlock (TV series)|Sherlock]]''<ref>{{cite web |title=Martin Freeman |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bbc3ea006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530033210/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bbc3ea006 |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 May 2017 |website=BFI |access-date=8 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Joe Jopling]], professional footballer
* [[John Lucarotti]], screenwriter
* [[Ian McEwan]], novelist
* [[Ben Norris (comedian)]], stand-up comedian, who has appeared on ''[[Mock the Week]]'' and ''[[Never Mind the Buzzcocks]]''
* [[Joe Ralls]], footballer and current captain of [[Cardiff City FC]]
* [[Alex Reid (fighter)|Alex Reid]], [[mixed martial arts]] fighter and ex-husband of [[Katie Price]]
* [[Eve Stratford]], [[Playboy Bunny|Playboy Club Bunny]], who was the victim of one of Britain's unsolved murders in 1975
* [[Alfred Toye]], Aldershot-born recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]] during [[World War I]]
* [[James Wade]], professional darts player on the [[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]].

==In popular culture==
In 1894, a five-year old [[Charlie Chaplin]] made his first appearance on stage at the Canteen when his mother, a music-hall singer, lost her voice in the middle of a song and was booed offstage. Chaplin was taken on stage by the stage-manager and left to entertain the audience with singing, dancing and imitations, including of his mother.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Merton |first1=Paul |title=Silent Comedy |date=2007 |publisher=Arrow Books |location=London |isbn=978-0-0995-1013-0 |pages=5–6}}</ref>

[[File:Beaumont Riding School Aldershot.jpg|thumb|right|The Cavalry Riding School building at Beaumont Barracks featured in ''The Charge of the Light Brigade'' (1968)]]

The barracks scenes in the 1968 film ''[[The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968 film)|The Charge of the Light Brigade]]'', starring [[David Hemmings]] and [[Trevor Howard]], were filmed at the old West Cavalry Barracks<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://davidwatkin.co.uk/charge-of-the-light-brigade/ |title=David Watkin Cinematographer website |access-date=14 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014114958/http://davidwatkin.co.uk/charge-of-the-light-brigade/ |archive-date=14 October 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> (now largely demolished). The gates of the South Cavalry Barracks stood in as the prison gates for the 1960 film ''[[Two-Way Stretch]]'' starring [[Peter Sellers]], [[Wilfrid Hyde-White]] and [[Lionel Jeffries]]. [[Breakout (1959 film)]] used the East Cavalry Barracks.

The area was used for location filming of the 1970 ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode "[[The Ambassadors of Death]]".<ref name="Radio Times">{{cite web |first=Patrick |last=Mulkern |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/blog/2009-09-28/doctor-who-the-ambassadors-of-death |title=Doctor Who: The Ambassadors of Death |work=[[Radio Times]] |date=28 September 2009 |access-date=23 September 2012}}</ref>

Due to its architecture, Bruneval Barracks in [[Aldershot Garrison|Montgomery Lines]] was chosen as the location for snowy scenes in [[Kazan]], Russia, at the end of the 2009 James Bond film ''[[Quantum of Solace]]''.<ref>[http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2038353_barracks_and_airport_provide_location_for_bond_film Barracks and Airport provide location for Bond film] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913050519/http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2038353_barracks_and_airport_provide_location_for_bond_film |date=13 September 2011 }}</ref> Parts of Aldershot's military training area were also used for the opening sequence in the 2002 James Bond film ''[[Die Another Day]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.movie-locations.com/movies/d/Die-Another-Day.php |title=Die Another Day |publisher=Movie Locations |access-date=2 July 2020}}</ref>

The Montgomery Lines were again used for [[Brad Pitt]]'s film ''[[World War Z (film)|World War Z]]'' based on the novel by [[Max Brooks]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/film-tv/brad-pitt-talks-world-war-4868313 |title=Brad Pitt talks World War Z |date=20 June 2013 |publisher=Get Surrey |access-date=2 July 2020}}</ref>

The HBO series ''[[House of the Dragon]]'' filmed a number of scenes for the third episode on the Ceaser's Camp military training ground on the border of [[Farnham]] and Aldershot.

==Twin towns==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the United Kingdom}}

Rushmoor is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/internationalpartners |title=Our international partner towns |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Rushmoor Borough Council}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dayton, Ohio]], United States (since 2019)
* {{flagicon|NEP}} [[Gorkha Municipality]], Nepal (since 2020)
* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Meudon]], France (since 1974)
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Oberursel]], Germany (since 1989)
* {{flagicon|POL}} [[Rzeszów]], Poland (since 2019)
* {{flagicon|POL}} [[Sulechów]], Poland (since 2001)

==See also==
{{Portal|Hampshire}}
* [[List of army barracks around Aldershot]]
* [[Aldershot Military Cemetery]]
* [[Aldershot Cemetery]], the town's civil cemetery
* [[Aldershot Crematorium]]
* [[St Joseph's Church, Aldershot]]
* [[Church of St Michael the Archangel, Aldershot|Church of St Michael the Archangel]]
* [[Holy Trinity Church, Aldershot]]
* [[Wesleyan Church, Aldershot]]
* [[Royal Army Physical Training Corps Museum]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}

* [http://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/ Rushmoor Borough Council]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130704110648/http://aldershottattoo.co.uk/ The Aldershot Tattoo (Web archive)]
* [http://www.aldershotcivicsociety.org.uk/ The Aldershot Civic Society]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031003021331/http://www.hants.gov.uk/museum/aldershot/ Aldershot Military Museum]
* [https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/library/services/specialcollections Aldershot Library Military Collection]
* [http://www.brickfieldspark.org Brickfields Country Park]

{{Hampshire}}
{{1948 Summer Olympic venues}}
{{Olympic venues equestrian}}
{{Olympic venues modern pentathlon}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Aldershot| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Venues of the 1948 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic equestrian venues]]
[[Category:Military in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Towns with cathedrals in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Rushmoor]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 11th century]]
[[Category:1086 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Hampshire]]